Today in Nerd History | September 21

Nerd culture is a vibrant tapestry of events, releases, and milestones that have shaped the entertainment landscape. From iconic movies to groundbreaking games and significant literary contributions, this article takes a trip down memory lane to explore the notable nerd culture events that occurred on September 21st in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: Tolkien Library

THE HOBBIT

In 1937, The Hobbit was first published. This fantasy novel by J. R. R. Tolkien tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who joins a group of dwarves and a wizard on a quest to reclaim their treasure from a dragon named Smaug.

Nerdy Fact: Tolkien was friends with C.S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, and they both belonged to a literary group called The Inklings. Lewis was one of the first readers of The Hobbit and praised it in his review.

Photo Credit: ESPN Front Row

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

In 1970, the Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets 31-21 in front of a national audience in the inaugural Monday Night Football game that featured the legendary trio of Keith Jackson, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell in the broadcast booth.

Nerdy Fact: The most watched Monday night football game ever was on December 2, 1985, between the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins ended the Bears’ undefeated streak with a 38-24 victory. The game had a 29.6 TV rating and a 46 share.

Photo Credit: xTimelessGaming

MONSTER HUNTER

In 2004, Monster Hunter released in the US. In this game, you play as a hunter who takes on quests to slay or capture various monsters using weapons, armor, and items made from their materials on the PlayStation 2, spawning a very popular series from Capcom.

Nerdy Fact: Monster Hunter was not very popular outside of Japan until Monster Hunter: World, which was released in 2018. It sold around 12 million units worldwide, making it the best-selling game in the series by far. It also introduced many newcomers to the monster hunting phenomenon.

Today in Nerd History is produced by Radio Matt & Deidra for Rise & Shine, Nerds, LTN’s official Nerdy Morning News Show.